Switch



M. L. JEFFREY swn'ca Filed April 25. 1941 Jan. 27, "1942.

INVENTOR.

MAX. LJEFFREY I -r mvexs.

Patented :27, 1942 SWITCH Max L. Jeffrey, Shaker Heights, Ohio Application April 25, 194i, Serial No. 390,311

8 Claims. (or. 74-97),

This invention relates broadly to switches and more specifically to improvements in snap action switches of the type wherein the contacts are.

quickly opened or closed.

The present application constitutes a continuation in part of my-copending application filedv July 26, 1938, Serial No. 221,274.

In the construction of switches for opening and/or closingelectric circuits, particularly those disposed in circuits having a relatively heavy cur- -rent, the actuating mechanism for the switches should be so designed as to facilitate the opening and closing of the contacts to eliminate arcing. Although snap action switches are old in the art there havebeen many disadvantages present in the prior devices, both in construction and operation, which it is the purpose of the present inventionto overcome. For instance, switches that are capable of carrying high currents are relatively slow in their operation and the configuration and size of these switches is such as to materially limit their use.

One of the objects, therefore, of the present invention resides in the construction of a relatively small and compact switch having a suittially in elevation of a portion of the actuating mechanism;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of another portion of the switch actuating mechanism;

- Fig. 5 is a perspective'view of a spring which is adapted to transmit, the movement of one portion pf the actuating mechanism to a second portion thereof; and I I Fig. 6 is an elevational view of the switch showthe actuating mechanism in one of its operative positions.

-The switch illustrated herein is particularly adapted for opening and closing a circuit which comprises two subsidiary sections of the main circuit. However, it isreadily apparent that the switch may be employed to" open or close a circuit embodying a single section. The switch of the present disclosure embodies a plurality of contacts engageable by a contactor which is reciprocated with a snap action. The contactor movement through a lever. the lever is derived from an arm, disposed outside of the switch housing, which is connected able operating mechanism associated therewith which is capable of extended. action without in-- jury to the switch.

- Another object of the invention is to provide sidered in connection with the accompanying drawing, sets forth the preferred embodiment of the invention. Y In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is an elevational view of the switch showmg one of the cover plates removed therefrom to illustrate a portion of the actuating mechanism therefor;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional'yiew of'the switch, 1

showing the actuating mechanism therefor, the view being takenfon a line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 isja view partially in section and parplane indicated by the to the lever by an over-travel mechanism that enables the arm to be moved a greater distance than is actually necessary to facilitate the manipulation of the lever. is designed to prevent injury to the several parts of the switch that might result from the excessive movement of the arm. The arm referred to herein may be actuated by any desiredpart of a machine with which the switch is associated, although it is to be understood that othertypes of arms of a particular design may be employed dependent upon the part of the machine with which the switch'is associated.

As shown ln'Flgs. 1 and 2, the housing l0 comprises two compartments, one of which contains the switch contacts and contactor, while the other contains the switch-actuating mechanism. Secured to the sides of the housing by screws "there are closure plates l2 and I4, with ment of the switch in any desired position upon a machine.

The contacts lever and shaft employed herein are of theform disclosed in my copending application, Serial No.

2 ,2 4, filed July 26, 1938. A detailed descrip tion thereof 'is, therefore, deemed unnecessary apart from 'suchgeneral reierence'to the parts Suchan arrangement and contactor with its supporting thereto by a pin 3|.

thereof as may be necessary for a complete understanding of the invention.

Within a portion of the housing If) subjacent the switch compartment there is journaled a shaft IS in a'plane parallel to the shaft l9 which supports the contactor lever 26. The outer end of the shaft |8 is drilled and tapped along its axis subsequent to which the drilled portion of the shaft is split to facilitate the attachment of the operating arm 2 thereto. Formed on the peripheral surface of the outer end portion of the shaft 8 thereare serrations which are adapted to engage a complementary serrated surface formed in an aperture provided in the end of the arm 2|. An Allen set screw 23 is threaded within the end of the shaft I8 for expanding the split portions thereof into locking engagement with the arm 2 i. Mounted within a yoke formed in the free end of the arm 2| there is 'a roller 24 which is adapted to engage a moving part of the particular machine to which the housing may be attached.

Disposed within the switch actuating compartment of the housing N there is a lever 26 formed with a bifurcated end portion 21 which is loose ly mounted upon the inner end of the shaft l8.

' The opposite end of the lever 26 is provided with a slldeway 28 within which there is reciprocably mounteda yoke 29 having a roller 36 secured A portion of thelever 26 subjacent the slideway 28 is counterbored to receive a helical spring 32 which engages the lower end of the yoke 29 for urging the roller 30 into engagement with a rocking member 34. The rocking member 34 is secured to the end of the shaft I3 which projects into the switch actuating compartment of the housing It. movement of the lever 26 and roller 36 actuates the rocking member 34 causing the shaft Is to rotate for moving the contact lever 20 in the manner as set forth-in my copending application.

U ration complemental to the lower end portion of the lever 26. The lever 38 is secured to the shaft l8 while the bifurcated end 21 of the lever 26 is loosely mounted thereon, thereby permitting the actuation of the shaft l8 and lever 36 without transmitting any movement to the lever 26. Encircling the shaft l8 and the ends of the levers 26 and 36 there is a spring member 42, Figs. 3 and 5, which has its ends 43 thereof disposed within the notches formed in the levers 26 and 38. The spring member 42 is composed of a number of flat leaf springs with the ends of the inner leaf being ofiset or flared outwardly to provide a seat for the ends of the remaining leaves. Thus any movement imparted to the lever 38 by the shaft is is transmitted to the lever 26 by the spring member 42. However, as shown in Fig. l, the spring member 42 may be formed of a plurality of leaves with the several ends thereof being flush-with one another-and adapted to engage the notches provided in the levers 26 and 33.

In the operation of theswitch disclosed herein it may be assumed for the purpose of explanation that a main circuit has two subsidiary cir-' movement is transmitted to the lever 26 by the spring 42. Assuming that the lever 26 is moved in a counterclockwise movement, Figs. 1 and 2, the'roller 30 moves across the'lower face of the rocking member 34 until the lever 26 engages the enlarged end portion 44 of the latch 45 whereupon the continued movement of the lever 26 the action of the spring 46 is overcome, thereby dis- The lower end portion of the lever 26, Fig. 3,

engaging the end of the rocking member from the latch 45. Immediately upon the disengagement of the end of the rocking member 34 from the latch 45 the spring 32 forces the roller upwardly, thus causing the rocking member to move with a snap action to engage the opposite end ofthe rocking member with the latch 45 disposed on the opposite side of the housing I6. The snap action of the rocking member 34 is transmitted through the shaft |9 to the lever 20 foractuating the contactor.

The levers 26 and 38 may be moved relative to each other, upon the actuation of the shaft l8, even if the lever 26 is held against movement and providing the force exerted upon the arm 2| is suflicient to spread theends 43 of the spring member 42. As illustrated in Fig. 6, the lever 26 is in abutting relation with the enlarged end 44 of the latch 45, shown on the right hand side, and the operating arm 2| has been rotated approximately 29 degrees further than the lever 26. The lever 38 is shown as having been rotated from a juxtaposition within the bifurcated end'of the lever 26 to a position where it engagesthe side of the housing It and the ends 43 of the spring member 42 have been forced apart. The reciprocation or movement of the arm 2| inthe opposite direction will tend to reverse the above described operation. e

In certain instances it may be desirable to employ the switch for making a momentary contact in which event the lever 26 is to be returned to its original position immediately upon the be understood that the specific terminology is completion of the contact. A spring 50 is interposed between the housing IO and the lever 26 so that upon the movement of the arm 2| the lever 26 will be actuated against the action of the spring so that upon the release or disengagement of the arm 2| with its cooperating machine part the spring will return the lever 26 to its original position. It is to be understood, however, that the spring 50 is not essential to the normaloperation of the switch and may be omitted therefrom.

Although the foregoing description is neces sarily of a detailed character, in order that the invention may be completely set forth, it is to not intended to be restrictive or confining, and that variousrearrangements of parts and rhodifications of detail may be resorted to without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention as herein claimed.

I claim:

1. In a lever mechanism for transmitting movement between separate machine elements, a shaft, means for rotating or oscillating said shaft, a lever carried by said shaft and movable therewith and having a pair of oppositely 'disposed, transverse notches extending parallel to the axis of the shaft, a second lever having a bifurcatedend rotatively journaled on said shaft with said first named lever disposed within said bifurcation and movable within the bifurcated end, the bifurcated end of said lever having a pair of oppositely disposed, transverse notches extending parallel to the axis of the shaft, a spring comprising a C-shaped member having the ends positioned in the oppositely disposed notches of said levers, said first lever adapted to transmit movement through said spring to said second lever, said spring adapted to open up to allow independent movement of said levers when one lever meets with sufiicient resistance to overcome the inherent rigidity of said springs.

2. In a device of the class described, a hous-' ing, a shaft rotatably journaled in the base thereof and having an end portion extending therefrom, a lever within the housing and having a bifurcated end loosely mounted on the shaft, a second lever secured to said shaft within the bifurcated end of the first named lever, said levers formed with axially aligned, spaced notches in a plane parallel to the axis of the shaft, a spring comprising a plurality of C-shaped members partially encircling said shaft and the ends of said levers, the ends of saidspring being positioned in oppositely disposed notches of the levers, for transmitting the movement of the shaft and second named lever to the first named lever.

3. In a device of the class described, a housing, a shaft rotatably journaled in the base thereof and having an end portion extending therefrom, a lever within the housing and having a bifurcated end loosely mounted on the shaft, a second lever secured to said shaft within the bifurcated end of the first named lever, said levers formed -with axially aligned, spaced notches in a plane parallel to the axis of the shaft, a spring member composed of a plurality of C-shaped leaves, the ends of the inner leaf of said spring member being flared outwardly to provide a seat for the ends of the remaining leaves, the outwardly flared ends of the inner spring member engageable with oppositely disposed-notches of said levers, the ends of said spring member being adapted to spread apart to permit independent movement of said levers upon one of said levers meeting with a resistance sufiicient to overcome the inherent rigidity of said spring.

4. In an apparatus of the class described, a shaft, a lever embodying a pair of spaced members on said shaft and having spaced seats formed on their adjacent faces extending parallel to the axis of the shaft, 21. second lever on said shaft intermediate said spaced members, a pair of seats formed on said second lever parallel to the axis of the shaft and in alignment with the seats on said members, a spring comprising a c-shaped member having its ends positioned on said seats for allowing independent movement of said levers upon one of said levers meeting with a resistance suflicient to overcome the inherent rigidity of the spring, one of said levers being secured to said shaft.

5. In a mechanism for transmitting movement between separate machine elements, a shaft, an

actuator embodying spaced portions rotatably journalled on said shaft and having oppositely,

disposed transverse notches therein extending parallel to the axis of the shaft, a member mounted upon the shaft intermediate said spaced portions, said member having oppositely disposed transverse notches extending parallel to the axis of the shaft, a spring, the ends of said spring positioned in the notches of said actuator and member for transmitting movement between said shaft and actuator through said member.

6. In a mechanism for transmitting movement between separate machine elements, a shaft, a member embodying spaced portions rotatably journalled on said shaft and having oppositely -disposed transverse notches therein extending parallel to the axis of theshaft, a second member secured to said shaft intermediate said spaced portions, said second member provided with oppositely disposed, transverse notches extending parallel to the axis of the shaft, a spring, the ends thereof positioned in oppositely disposed notches of said second member and spaced portions for transmitting movement between said shaft and spaced portions, said spring adapted to allow independent movement between said second member. and spaced portions when said second member meets with-sufficient resistance to overcome the inherent rigidity of the spring.

7. In an apparatus of the class described, a shaft, a lever embodying a pair of spaced members on said shaft and having spaced seats formed on their adjacent faces parallel to the axis of the shaft, a second lever slidably keyed to said shaft betwen said spaced members, a pair of seats formed on said second lever parallel to' formed on said lever parallel to the axis of the shaft, a second lever mounted on said shaft within the plane of the first named lever, seats formed on the second lever parallel to the axis of the shaft and in alignment with the seats on said first lever, a spring, the ends of the spring'engaging said seats to transmit movement between said levers, one of said levers being secured to 1 said shaft,

MAX L. JEFFREY. 

